SHORELINE, Wash. -
Illinois State learned that it will face 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament qualifier Weber State in the first round of the 2014 Ezybonds Global Payments U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam, when the tournament bracket was unveiled Monday morning by promoter Basketball Travelers Inc.

The Redbirds are scheduled to begin tournament-play against the Wildcats on Friday, Nov. 21, at 8 p.m. CT. Illinois State will then face either Southeastern Conference (SEC) foe and National Invitation Tournament (NIT) qualifier LSU or College Basketball Invitational (CBI) qualifier Old Dominion in the next round.

If the Redbirds win their first-round matchup against Weber State, they will play in the tournament semifinals on Sunday, Nov. 23, at 8 p.m. CT, scheduled to be televised live on CBS Sports Network. An opening-round loss would move ISU into a consolation-semifinal matchup on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 4 p.m. CT. All of the tournament's final games will take place on Monday, Nov. 24, with the 2014 Paradise Jam championship contest tipping off at 8 p.m. CT, live on CBS Sports Network.

Along with Weber State, LSU and Old Dominion, Illinois State could also potentially play Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opponent and NIT qualifier Clemson, Gardner-Webb, Nevada or BIG EAST foe Seton Hall. All three of ISU's games in the four-day Paradise Jam will be held at the 4,000-seat UVI Sports and Fitness Center at the University of the Virgin Islands during the week before Thanksgiving.

Illinois State has never faced five out of the seven potential Paradise Jam opponents, with the Redbirds previously playing Clemson and Weber State each once before. ISU fell to Clemson, 67-56, Dec. 19, 1980, but defeated Weber State, 74-70, Nov. 16, 2001.

Five out of the eight participants in this year's tournament qualified for postseason play in 2013-14, including: Clemson (NIT semifinals, 23-13 overall), LSU (NIT second round, 20-14 overall), Old Dominion (CBI semifinals, 18-18 overall) and Weber State (NCAA Tournament second round, 19-12 overall). Illinois State also advanced to the CBI semifinals, while compiling an 18-16 overall record.

Six of the 2014 Paradise Jam games are scheduled to be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network, and the remaining contests can be seen live online, in high definition. All game times are subject to change. Information for fans regarding travel and tickets can be found by visiting ParadiseJam.com.